Your guide to Halloween events in the Richmond area

Local kids pose while trick-or-treating at last year's 23rd Street Trick-or-Treat event.

More and more, residents of Richmond and surrounding communities don’t have to travel far to enjoy a wide range of Halloween activities.

Check out these events happening today:

1. Trick or Treat on 23rd Street

Last year, hundreds of kids and their families took advantage of the first, organized Halloween event along the vibrant 23rd Street commercial corridor of Richmond.

The free Halloween stroll that has families visiting stores and local centers for treats and activities is returning for a second year on Oct. 31.

And there appears to be even more to do. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. along 23rd Street. During that time, the NIAD Art Center will hold a costume contest and souvenir photos; Contra Costa College will host STEM activities, including a NASA robot table and slime-making demos; and Bay Area’s Finest Auto will provide temporary tattoos.

Kids will also enjoy animal balloons, face-painting and masks, spooky Pinwheels by MCE and a Community Altar Pavilion created with help from the Richmond Museum of History.

The event is organized by Urban Transformation, which has been tasked with revitalizing the 23rd Street corridor. The organization says it is holding a Halloween stroll for families in order to mobilize merchants to get involved, spur economic activity, associate Richmond with a positive family activity and to begin to change perceptions of the corridor by encouraging more foot traffic.

The new owners of The Shops at Hilltop have big plans for improving the mall and redeveloping the property.

But some good things are sticking around — like the ability to trick-or-treat safely in the mall on Halloween.

From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, the mall is holding a number of events that includes trick-or-treating. See the flyer below for a list of Halloween-themed activities, which include meeting Wanda the Stilt Walking Witch, a balloon-twisting Halloween ferry, a Halloween photo booth, pumpkin cookie decorating, spooky music and more.

16th Annual Richmond SOL Halloween Haunted House and Trunk or Treat:

This always fun event — which features not just a haunted house but also a classic car show — is set to run from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the corner of 23rd Street and Visalia Avenue in Richmond.

Presented by Diego Garcia and Leftside Printing, the event is a fundraiser for Richmond SOL (Sports, Outreach, Leadership), a program that provides training, educational outings, and leadership and life skills to 300 children in Richmond. Donations in any amount are accepted at the door. See more info in the flyer:

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